Xue Qinghe stood outside the door.
Hearing the Old Emperor's furious roar from inside.
He couldn't help but be taken aback.
Although he knew Xue Ye would be furious after Xue Beng presented those pieces of evidence to complain.
What he didn't expect was that the anger would be this intense.
Soon, a eunuch walked out and asked him to enter.
Xue Qinghe asked softly, "Eunuch Li, do you know why His Majesty is so enraged?"
"This..." the eunuch stammered, a smile plastered on his face.
His fingers, however, couldn't help but rub together.
Xue Qinghe immediately understood the hint.
He took out a heavy pouch of gold coins and stuffed it into the other's hand.
"Please accept this small token, Eunuch Li."
"Oh~ Your Highness, you flatter this old servant too much."
"It's just a question. You ask, I answer, that's all. Why give money?"
Although his words said this.
His hands were anything but slow.
He quickly stashed the pouch of gold coins into his sleeve.
Feeling its weight.
His face instantly lit up with joy.
As an old hand in the workplace, Eunuch Li had accepted many bribes.
His hands were as good as a scale.
After weighing it twice in his hand, he knew this pouch contained at least a hundred gold coins.
He looked left and right, then leaned close to Xue Qinghe and whispered about what had just happened in the Imperial Study.
After listening to the old eunuch's words.
Xue Qinghe couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
He had truly underestimated this 'Fourth Brother's' eloquence!
He could actually weave a story convincing enough for Xue Ye from just a few irrelevant scraps of information.
With an indifferent expression, Xue Qinghe entered the Imperial Study.
He saw Xue Ye sitting at the desk.
Xue Beng stood to one side, smiling smugly.
He ignored Xue Beng and directly bowed to Xue Ye.
"I pay my respects to Father."
"I wonder why Father urgently summoned your son?"
Xue Ye's face was expressionless, his voice icy: "Qinghe, where have you been these past few days?"
"Father, your son has been reading in the Crown Prince's Palace these past few days."
"Reading what?"
"The Analects of Force."
"The Analects of Force? What book is that?"
"It is a book on governing the world. It speaks of how a ruler should take the left fist as benevolence, the right fist as propriety, the sword as virtue, the bow as reason, subduing others with virtue, teaching others with reason..."
Xue Qinghe recounted some important excerpts from the Analects of Force that Jin Mian had told him.
In short, if you want to govern a country into a peaceful and prosperous age.
Your fists must be hard! Your muscles must be strong! Your sword must be sharp! You must be exceptionally fierce in a fight!
This caused Xue Ye, who had been about to hold him accountable.
And the gleeful Xue Beng.
To freeze in place.
Holy shit!
There's actually a book on governing the world like this in the world!
Xue Beng directly interrupted: "Elder Brother, you're talking nonsense. Even someone like me knows that governing the world should be done by scholars. Since ancient times, who has ever governed with martial force?"
Xue Qinghe smiled faintly: "Fourth Brother, you don't study well, so naturally you wouldn't know."
"This prince naturally has no interest in such trashy books."
"Besides, today, Father and I are not here to listen to you tell stories."
He turned to look at Xue Ye: "Father, let's get straight to the point."
Xue Ye nodded, changing the subject: "Qinghe, since you say you've been reading in the Crown Prince's Palace these past few days, then how do you explain these matters?"
The eunuch immediately brought the memorial from the desk and placed it before Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe's expression remained as calm as ever.
He took the memorial and began to read it.
Just as he had anticipated.
The contents written on it were exactly the same as the whereabouts he had deliberately leaked to Xue Beng.
Seeing Xue Qinghe silently reading the memorial.
Xue Beng thought he had caught his opponent's weakness.
He quickly added fuel to the fire: "Elder Brother, as the Crown Prince of the Tiandou Empire, you actually have secret, close dealings with the Spirit Hall, and even secretly delivered military supplies to the Spirit Hall."
"What are your intentions? Could it be you have some ulterior motive?"
Faced with the accusation.
Xue Qinghe merely smiled slightly and said nonchalantly: "Oh, so it's about these matters."
"Father, have you forgotten? These are things you ordered me to do."
Xue Beng:???
Xue Ye:???
These words left the father and son utterly bewildered.
Especially Xue Ye.
When did he ever tell Xue Qinghe to contact people from the Spirit Hall?
As for Xue Beng.
He was directly dumbfounded.
He looked at his father with wide, astonished eyes.
Thinking to himself.
Did he just walk right into a trap?
Xue Ye narrowed his eyes and questioned: "Qinghe, when did I ever say for you to contact the Spirit Hall?"
"That's right, Elder Brother, when did Father ever say that?"
"Although you are the Crown Prince, you can't speak nonsense before Father!"
Like a clown jumping about.
Xue Beng made a big fuss.
Xue Qinghe couldn't be bothered to deal with this guy and directly said to Xue Ye: "Father, have you forgotten? A few days ago, you ordered your son to handle the military supplies seized from the Xing Family."
Xue Ye nodded: "That is true. However, I told you to sell the supplies to people from the Star Luo Empire. Why did you deliver them to the Spirit Hall?"
"Wasn't Father's intention for your son to disguise as people from the Star Luo Empire, transport that batch of military supplies to conduct business with the Spirit Hall, in order to divert the attention of the Xing Family, who has been investigating this matter?"
"Therefore, your son ordered people to change into Star Luo Empire attire and transport the military supplies into the Spirit Hall."
Sure enough.
"The Xing Family followed closely behind."
"Ever since that day, the Xing Family's attention has been entirely focused on the Star Luo Empire and the Spirit Hall."
"They have completely dismissed any suspicion of our Tiandou Empire."
"If we can give things a little push at this time."
"We might be able to incite a conflict between the Xing Family and the Spirit Hall."
"And the Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire are powerful. Even if the Xing Family is formidable, they are no match for them. In the end, they will certainly come to us for help."
"If your son misunderstood Father's intention, please reprimand him."
This speech by Xue Qinghe.
Left Xue Ye and Xue Beng, the father and son, stunned once again.
Xue Ye thought to himself.
Holy shit? Was that my intention?
At the time, he just wanted Xue Qinghe to take the supplies and sell them to the Spirit Hall.
To replenish the national treasury a bit.
He never thought of all this.
At the same time, the look he gave Xue Qinghe was filled with approval.
Look.
Truly worthy of being his son.
How could the brains of the Star Luo Empire's princes compare?
Xue Beng was furious.
The evidence he had worked so hard to gather.
Was turned into his good elder brother's merit with just a few words.
This wouldn't do.
He spoke up: "Impossible! Father! The Crown Prince is completely making excuses, you..."
"You shut your mouth!"
Xue Ye sharply interrupted.
He turned to look at Xue Qinghe and said: "Qinghe, you did well this time. I never expected you to understand my intentions so quickly."
"Qinghe dare not claim credit; it is all due to Father's excellent guidance." Xue Qinghe quickly flattered.
At the same time, he thought to himself.
This damned emperor really has no shame.
With one sentence.
He actually took all the credit for himself...
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